Indonesia confirms more polio cases

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Indonesia has confirmed four more cases of polio, with 20
children infected with the disease in the country's first outbreak
in a decade.

The cases were confirmed yesterday, almost a week after
Indonesia carried out a huge vaccination program aimed at reaching
6.4 million children under five in two days in an effort to contain
the spread of the crippling virus.

All four new cases came from three districts in the western part
of Java island, including one in Sukabumi district where the first
case of polio was detected in April, the World Health Organisation
said in a statement here.

The other victims were in the Lebak and Cianjur districts.

Indonesia plans to launch a second round of polio immunisation
between June 28 and 29.

The outbreak in Sukabumi is believed to have been caused by a
virus brought to Indonesia via Saudi Arabia either through migrant
workers or Islamic pilgrims returning from Mecca.

Polio is a waterborne virus that usually affects infants and
young children, causing paralysis, withered muscles and sometimes
death. There is no known cure.